As a five-year research project, the university launched in September 2003 the 21st Century COE Program “Systematization of Nonwritten Cultural Materials for the Study of Human Societies,” which was concluded with many fruitful results on March 31, 2008.The Research Center for Nonwritten Cultural Materials will be set up as a base for further research in the Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture on April 1, 2008.

Posterior Assessment

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science has released the posterior assessments of the 21st Century Centers of Excellence programs selected in fiscal 2003, and we are proud to announce that we were deemed to have successfully accomplished our initial objectives (PDF).

We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the cooperation and support of all those who endeavored to push forward our program. We appreciate your continued support and guidance.